The Calliphoridae, commonly known as blow flies, are a family of insects in the order Diptera with almost 1,900 known species. Their maggot larvae, often used as fishing bait, are known as gentles. The family is known to be polyphyletic, with much still disputed about the proper treatment of its constituent taxa, some of which are occasionally accorded family status of their own.
Facts
Classification
DietDetritivore or Scavenger 1 System (Realm) System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceAdults commonly shiny with metallic colouring, often with blue, green, or black thoraces and abdomens 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Ecosystem
Source Calliphoridae, Wikipedia
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Calliphoridae, Wikipedia
Lead section, first sentence
The Calliphoridae (commonly known as blowflies, blow flies, blow-flies, carrion flies, bluebottles, or greenbottles) are a family of insects in the order Diptera, with almost 1,900 known species.
Description, Characteristics, first sentence
Calliphoridae adults are commonly shiny with metallic colouring, often with blue, green, or black thoraces and abdomens.
article text (relationship to people), EntityId 308868
Adult blowflies are occasional pollinators, being attracted to flowers with strong odors resembling rotting meat, such as the American pawpaw or dead horse arum.
Lead
Larvae of most species are scavengers of carrion and dung, and most likely constitute the majority of the maggots found in such material, although they are not uncommonly found in close association with other dipterous larvae from the families Sarcophagidae and Muscidae, and many other acalyptrate muscoid flies.
In Ecosystem: Chihuahuan Desert, Predators
In the Chihuahuan desert of Mexico, a fungus, Furia vomitoriae (Rozsypal) Humber (1989) (from the family of Entomophthoraceae) affects bluebottle flies.
View the Source2. GBIF Species API
3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ28404, descriptionView the Source 4. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Insecta
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Insectos","language":"ES"},{"name":"Insects","language":"EN"},{"name":"Insectes","language":"FR"},{"name":"昆虫纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source Wikidata: Blow Fly
- Wikidata Q28404, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Diptera, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.